Ardentinny Beach is a beautiful sandy beach situated on the western shore of the Cowal Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. This is one of our favourite spots we found in Scotland on our first visit in our van. We couldn't believe what we had found. After driving a single-ish track road to this beach and little village we felt like we found paradise. It kind of reminded me of places I visited in France as a little kid.
Ardentinny Beach is located on the eastern banks of Loch Long and is surrounded by hills. The beach stretches for a mile. With the clean sands and very clear waters, we can see why it is such a popular place, especially during the summer months. The beach is backed by a forest known as Ardentinny Forest. The forest is literally just behind the beach area and is really easy to access and provides great walks and hikes, with trails that wind through the trees and offer glimpses of local wildlife.
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Ardentinny is a favourite of ours. When we found this place we couldn't believe how peaceful and stunning the village and area was. A charming village located on the shores of Loch Long, nestled within the stunning Scottish countryside. There's plenty to see and do here.
Ardentinny Beach is located on the western coast of Scotland, in the region of Argyll and Bute. Situated on the shores of Loch Long, a sea loch that extends from the Firth of Clyde into the Scottish Highlands. Ardentinny Beach is within the village of Ardentinny, which is approximately 15 miles north of Dunoon and around 60 miles northwest of Glasgow.
We've added a few links to find exactly where Ardentinny Beach is.
What3Words - ///brink.wedge.sues
SatNav - PA23 8TS is the nearest postcode.
If you're planning a trip to Ardentinny, whether it's by car, bus or public transport we have you covered.
By Car
One of the best ways to get to Ardentinny is by car. From Glasgow, it's just over an hour's drive via the A82 and A83 roads. Alternatively, if you're travelling from Edinburgh, the journey will take around 3 hours via the M8 and A82 roads. Once you arrive in Ardentinny, there is plenty of parking available in the village and beach area.
By Bus
If you're travelling by public transport, there's several bus routes that service Ardentinny. The 485 and 489 buses run between Glasgow and Dunoon, with stops in Ardentinny along the way. You can also take the 926 bus from Glasgow to Dunoon and then transfer to the 485 or 489 buses to reach Ardentinny.
By Train and Ferry
Another option is to take the train and ferry combination. From Glasgow, take the train to Gourock and then transfer to the Western Ferries service to Dunoon. From Dunoon, you can take the 485 or 489 buses to Ardentinny. Alternatively, you can take the train to Glasgow Central Station and then transfer to the bus services mentioned earlier.
By Plane
If you're travelling from further afield, the nearest airports are Glasgow International and Glasgow Prestwick. From there, you can take a train or bus to Glasgow and then follow the directions above. Alternatively, you can hire a car from the airport and drive to Ardentinny.
There is parking at Ardentinny Beach. There is a car park as you drive towards the beach area, you can check out the street view below. Or if you drive a little further you can park just up from the beach in the designated parking spots.
Car parking information
The charges to park at Ardentinny are:
Payment can be made using RingGo. You can also call and email Forestry and Land Scotland with any questions you might have on parking or the area. We've spoken with them a few times on a number of different matters and they are literally the most helpful friendly bunch of people!
Email - enquiries.central@forestryandland.gov.scot
Phone - 0300 067 6600 (option 2)
If you're planning to visit Ardentinny and stay overnight, it's important to know where you can park your vehicle safely and legally. Here's what you need to know:
Car Parks
The best option for overnight parking in Ardentinny is to use one of the designated car parks in the area. There are two main car parks in the village, one located near the beach and the other at the village hall. Both car parks are free to use and open 24 hours a day. However, it's worth noting that they can also get busy during peak season, so arrive early to secure a spot.
Campervan and Motorhome Parking
If you're travelling in a campervan or motorhome, there are specific areas in Ardentinny where you can park overnight. The beach car park allows for overnight parking for self-contained vehicles. There are public toilets and bins but no other facilities are provided.
There are now parking charges in place at Ardentinny Beach.
Stay the Night Scheme
Ardentinny is part of the Stay the Night
You can walk the beautiful beach and take in the breathtaking views. But if you're looking for something a little more check out the next section below where we show you the walks you can go on to fully explore this area.
There's three walks that have been laid out for you to explore. Personally, I wouldn't say any of them are that challenging. But it's worth checking them out and making sure they're right for you. We covered all three walks in one afternoon.
Riverside Trail - Green-marked walk
You can walk along Glenfinart Burn to the Arched Bridge beneath exotic monkey puzzles, cypresses and firs. The sound of the water is very calming. It's a firm tarmac/gravel surface. It's mostly flat but there is a short fairly steep ramp. Whilst on the walk you'll pass by the old walled garden of Glenfinart House. If you're lucky to pass here during springtime you'll likely see snowdrops, daffodils and bluebells.
Laird's Trail - Yellow-marked walk
This is a bit more of a varied route. You walk along the shoreline at Finart Bay. Then you head up through the larch forest to the Laird’s Grave. Make sure you take your camera for the great views across Loch Long.
This trail is a wide, and firm tarmac/gravel surface. There are some fairly steep slopes. But remember what goes up must come down. You can stop by Lairds Grave before heading back down and towards the beach again
Birchwood Trail - Red-marked walk
This is probably the tougher of the three walks. It's a short walk, it climbs pretty quickly from the start. Guiding you through the native birch and oak woodland. It's a bit of an uneven surface, with grassy and rocky sections.
If you're still looking for more check out Google Maps or Alltrails for more walks. There are a whole bunch of footpaths and routes to take. You can even walk from Ardentinny Beach to Carrick Castle, we haven't tried this yet but it's on our list to do. We've read it's around 7 miles.
If you're wondering whether you can camp at Ardentinny Beach? Well, the answer is yes. Speaking with the Forestry and Land Scotland they told us you can camp on the beach with no problems. When we've travelled there before we've seen several people camping in tents there. We've also read it can get very busy in the summer. Once you've been there it's of no surprise..
There are free public toilets at Ardentinny Beach. There are also public toilets in the village at 21 Ardenfiled Parking.
When we visited we saw a few people swimming at Ardentinny Beach. We weren't brave enough for the cold water lol. One group of people we saw wading out were greeted with a Seal popping up in front of them to say hi before it swam off. All of us including the people in the water were in awe. We've also seen boats, paddle boarders and kayakers set off from the beach too. The water is incredibly clear here so it's no wonder it's so popular.
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